Mechanical Engineer (Data Center MEP Systems)

Starbase, TX

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER (DATA CENTER MEP SYSTEMS)

SpaceX is looking for an MEP Engineer with deep mechanical and plumbing expertise to design, specify, and commission the cooling and fluid systems that keep our data center infrastructure running. This role sits at the intersection of critical facilities engineering and the physical plant — you’ll be equally comfortable in a design review and walking a mechanical room during startup.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Design and specify mechanical cooling systems for data center facilities: chilled water plants, CRAH/CRAC units, air handling units, and cooling towers
  • Own plumbing system design: domestic water, sanitary, storm drainage, makeup water, and process piping for cooling systems
  • Evaluate and specify facility liquid cooling infrastructure (direct-to-chip, rear-door heat exchangers, immersion cooling)
  • Perform heat load calculations, airflow modeling, and capacity planning to ensure design requirements are met
  • Develop piping design, pump sizing, and hydraulic calculations for chilled water and condenser water loops
  • Review and coordinate mechanical/plumbing drawings with architectural, electrical, structural, and fire protection disciplines
  • Support commissioning of mechanical systems: functional performance testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and level 5 commissioning for critical cooling infrastructure
  • Work directly with equipment vendors (chillers, CRAH units, pumps, cooling towers) on technical specifications and factory witness testing
  • Troubleshoot operational issues in existing facilities — water treatment, pump cavitation, control valve failures, capacity shortfalls
  • Support due diligence and technical evaluation for new site selection, including utility water availability and existing mechanical infrastructure condition

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:  

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
  • 5+ years of experience in mechanical/plumbing design for mission-critical facilities, data centers, or comparable industrial environments

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

  • Working knowledge of HVAC and hydronic system design: chilled water plants, cooling towers, air handling systems
  • Experience with plumbing system design and code compliance (domestic water, sanitary, storm drainage)
  • Ability to read and produce mechanical/plumbing construction documents, P&IDs, and equipment schedules
  • Direct data center design or operations experience, ideally at hyperscale or colocation facility scale
  • Experience with liquid cooling technologies: direct-to-chip, rear-door heat exchangers, or immersion cooling systems
  • Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier standards and ASHRAE TC9.9 data center thermal guidelines
  • Commissioning experience, including functional performance testing (FPT) and integrated systems testing (IST)
  • Experience with water treatment systems and makeup water strategy for evaporative cooling systems
  • Knowledge of relevant codes: ASHRAE 90.1, IPC/UPC plumbing codes, NFPA where applicable
  • Experience working alongside electrical and controls engineers to ensure integrated BMS/EPMS operation
  • Comfort working in a fast-moving environment where facility capacity has to keep pace with compute deployment schedules

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Must be available to work extended hours and weekends when needed based on site operational needs; flexibility required
  • Willingness to travel to job sites during construction, commissioning, and critical operational events

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

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To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

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